A: For most projects, I charge €0.025 per word for proofreading, and €0.035 per word for editing. In rare cases, the cost may be slightly lower (if the document is very well written) or higher (if the document needs heavy editing or rewriting) than these rates.

If we have an hourly contract, the cost per word for editing/proofreading will depend on the quality of the text. This will determine my editing/proofreading pace in words per hour. What’s the difference between hourly and fixed-fee editing?

A: To be able to give you an accurate quote for the job, I first need to see the document that needs editing or proofreading. I cannot commit to editing a document I haven’t seen, because I need to be sure that I’m a good fit for the project. So, it’s in your interest to show me the document before I give you an estimate for editing or proofreading it.

A: My rates for editing and proofreading are very competitive for the quality and turnaround time I offer, so I do not normally offer discounts. In exceptional cases, however, I may be able to offer discounted editing services (for example, if you are a postgraduate student from a developing country and are going through financial hardship). If you have a tight budget for editing or proofreading services, we can discuss ways to minimize costs.

A: See Pricing and Terms of Service.

I accept the payment types listed here.

A: No. I cannot match the price another editor or agency has quoted for your project, because each provider of English editing services has different operating costs. According to most of my clients, my rates for editing and proofreading are extremely reasonable for the quality and turnaround time I offer.

A: No. I do not provide free editing services or free proofreading services. Also, I do not work in exchange for recommendations, for services, or for products. If you cannot afford to pay an editor or proofreader, you can ask your advisors or your university’s writing center staff members if they can provide editorial assistance for your dissertation. Also, some of your colleagues, friends, or family may be willing to proofread your dissertation for free. If you want to edit or proofread your dissertation on your own, you can find free academic writing resources and editing tips on my blog.

A: If your document has been professionally edited, I can proofread it. But if you’re asking if I can apply my proofreading rates to my editing services, the answer is no. My services are priced differently because they entail different things. If you would like to know more, please read my article What’s the difference between editing and proofreading?

A: No. My business is registered in Italy, and my invoices will be in euros. However, most of the payment methods listed on my Pricing page allow you to pay in other currencies.

A: My turnaround time varies depending on the complexity of the document and my workload. When I give you a quote for a project, I also estimate the delivery time. In general, the sooner you contact me to reserve a spot in my schedule, the faster my turnaround time will be.

A: It’s true that this blog is part of my business website and my blog posts do mention I provide English editing and proofreading services. However, none of the content of this blog is for self-promotion only or overly-self-promotional.

The aim of this blog has been, is, and will remain providing advice to anyone who wants to write better in English. A look at the variety of topics I’ve covered over the years proves my articles are not only for self-promotion. Through my blog I aim to help the reader solve a problem or learn something useful.

A: Most of my clients reserve editing time weeks in advance, but I sometimes accept last-minute projects. Please ask about my availability.

A: In general, one editing pass is not enough to catch all errors. Unless we agree otherwise, I’ll complete two editing passes—meaning I’ll edit your document twice. During the first editing pass, I’ll correct all major errors, and during the second editing pass, I’ll fix any remaining errors or inconsistencies. The first editing pass takes much longer than the second.

A: I edit both American and British English. Most of my clients prefer American English.

A: My editing pace will depend on the quality of the manuscript, as this will determine the level of editorial intervention needed.

A: Yes. I often work with authors who need help completing the revision of a paper. In these cases, heavy editing is usually needed, since parts of the document may need rewriting, or the content may need to be reorganized to improve flow or logic. As heavy editing takes more time—and costs more—than light editing, if you have a small budget for editing, please send me the document after you’ve revised it thoroughly.

A: A document that was revised thoroughly and edited professionally should need only proofreading. But if the document hasn’t been edited at a professional level, it probably needs editing first and then proofreading. I’ll use my expertise to determine if the document needs editing or proofreading. For more information, please read What’s the difference between editing and proofreading?

A: When you hire me, I’ll be the only language editor who will view and work on your document unless we agree otherwise (for example, when working on course/presentation editing, I may consult a professional designer for slide design and visuals). I take great pride in the quality of my language editing services, and to guarantee that all my clients receive the same high-quality results, I never subcontract my editing or proofreading work.

A: No. If a sentence is clear, sentence length is not a problem. Actually, mixing short and long sentences creates good rhythm and keeps the reader engaged. When I edit a document, my aim is concision, but that doesn’t mean I’ll edit all long sentences. I’ll suggest ways to avoid wordiness—unnecessary language that confuses the reader.

A: Fixing the references would entail citing each work in text and then compiling a list of references formatted consistently per APA Style. The time it would take to cross-check your references and create a reference list formatted consistently depends on the number of references. Fixing references can be done with A.I. tools, but if you need a human proofreader to check your references, we can negotiate a fee for this task. 

A: No. You’re not required to include my name as the editor of your book. If you’d like to acknowledge the help you receive from editors, proofreaders, researchers, etc., you can use the acknowledgment section of your book. However, professional writers like to publicly thank their editors and proofreaders, so please consider to do the same even if you are a new writer. Disclosing that you used professional editing or proofreading services indicates you care about the quality and accuracy of your manuscript.

A: I will provide a free editing sample only if I’m available to work on your project. Please first ask about my availability and send me the entire document that needs editing so that I can evaluate the work to be done. Then, if I accept the project, we’ll negotiate the price and turnaround time for editing and you’ll receive a free editing sample.

A: When I edit the text, I won’t simply make suggestions, but I will actually correct the errors. If, however, I come across style issues (the text is correct, but the writing style can be improved), I’ll suggest alternatives and you’ll decide which version you prefer. I always respect the author’s writing style and won’t impose my preferences.

A: Reference cross-checking means checking that all the works you cited in text appear in your reference list and vice versa.

A: Yes. I use Adobe Reader to mark-up PDFs, so you’ll read my comments and make changes to the text in the word processor you use.

A: I need to see the whole manuscript to be able to choose a representative sample because some parts of the manuscript will be better written than others.

A: I won’t “judge” you or your paper. As an author’s editor, I work for you, and I’m on your side: Your aim is to transmit information to the reader; my aim as your editor is to remove the obstacles between your message and the reader. If you don’t want me to explain the reason for my major editing choices, please let me know and I won’t make any comments.

A: No. I’m an English editor and proofreader. I do not edit or proofread texts in other languages, and I cannot help you find a translator. 

A: No. I don’t edit or proofread undergraduate papers or theses, or any other kind of work that counts towards an undergraduate degree.

A: Yes. If you’re a doctoral candidate, I can edit your PhD dissertation or thesis. But before you contact me, please check that you’re allowed to hire a professional editor to correct the language of your manuscript, to avoid problems when you submit your thesis. Some institutions (Grenoble Ecole de Management, for example) require their doctoral candidates to have their dissertations professionally copyedited, other universities encourage their PhD students (especially ESL students) to enlist the help of professional editors or proofreaders, but some institutions prohibit any kind of external help.

A: If you’re a postgraduate student, I encourage you to ask your supervisor if you’re allowed to hire a copyeditor for your thesis. Please see my answer to the previous question.

A: Formatting your Word document is not part of editing, but if you need this service and I’m available, we can negotiate a fee for this work.

A: Yes! I provide high-quality editing and proofreading services. If you’re not happy with the results, please provide specific feedback (tell me what you do not like) and I’ll edit your document again, for free, to address your concerns. However, to ensure you know how I work, I can edit a sample (usually 500–1000 words) for free. Also, you’ll have the chance to provide feedback during our project, and I’ll use your feedback to adapt my editing style so it meets your expectations.

A: Yes. We’ll decide if an hourly or fixed-price contract is better for your particular project. Regardless, you’ll receive high-quality editing/proofreading services. The health of my one-person business depends on the quality of my services. I always quote a fair price per word so that I do not have to rush to complete any project to inflate my profit.

A: To avoid that, you can hire me to complete just a small portion of the project. If you’re not happy with the result, or you think that I’m not a good fit for your project, we will end the contract.

A: No. I cannot guarantee that your article will be accepted for publication, because the journal editor will decide whether to accept your article or not based on many other factors apart from language.

A: I haven’t assessed the quality of services offered by any editing agency. Just note that many editing agencies subcontract their work to freelance editors. While some language editing agencies have in-house editors, many agencies collaborate with freelance editors, so the fee you pay an agency will be split between the agency and the freelancer. In contrast, when you hire a freelance editor, the entire fee you pay will be for editing services.

You’ll have to decide whether an agency or a freelance editor is better for your particular project.

If you’re seeking cheap editing services, or 24-hour turnaround, I’m probably not the right fit. But if you’re looking for a professional and experienced editor who loves the craft of editing and is committed to making your document the best it can be, please get in touch.

A: In general no. I offer follow-up consultations via email. In exceptional cases, we can arrange conference calls if needed (whereas follow-up consultations via email are free, conference calls are usually billable).

A: No. I have many clients, and if I allowed everyone to text me anytime, I would not be able to focus on my work, and the quality of my work would suffer. I’ll be available to answer your questions via email. My typical email response time is less than 24 hours (12 hours usually), which is perfectly suitable for most projects. Please read my answer to the previous question if you need Skype/phone consultations.

A: Yes. However, even if you don’t ask me to sign a non-disclosure agreement, the information in the documents you share with me will remain confidential.

A: Yes. It’s my policy to keep the names and documents of my clients confidential. However, I strongly encourage you to ask for permission to hire a professional editor before you send me the report.

I have a legal business (you can check my VAT registration number, IT 04535070264, here), but I operate it from home. I have no business address listed on my website because my home office is not open to the public. While I’m a freelance editor from Europe, I serve clients based in other parts of the world, so I have no need for a local office. I receive all orders for my services online, and I deliver all documents (revised texts, invoices, and other communications) electronically.

A: Please check my detailed answer on Quora.

A: Please check my blog post called The best academic writing books: My list.

A: I can provide links to the articles I’ve written, but not to the work I’ve edited. It’s my policy to maintain the confidentiality of all my clients’ documents. If you’d like to see a sample of my work, I can edit a sample of your document for free (see How I work). If you’re looking for referrals, please check the Testimonials page or the recommendations on my LinkedIn profile. Please note that many of my clients—especially those who are faculty members, academic researchers, or PhD students—prefer to remain anonymous, so they chose to leave no reviews or recommendations.

A: No, I cannot guarantee that I will make your document perfect or free of errors. What I do guarantee is that your document will be edited or proofread at a professional level so that you can be proud to publish it or submit it for review by any organization or individual.

A: I work with PhD students, faculty members, business owners, professionals, self-publishing authors, and non-governmental organizations. Many of my clients are native English speakers, but I also work with authors for whom English is a second language (ESL authors).

A: Generally yes, though if it’s a busy period for me, I may not be able to accept new work. Please contact me as early as possible so that I can set aside time for your project when you need my help.